Transcript Algae
Got Algae? Algae What do these items all have in common? Algae They are all made of seaweed! Seaweeds are large marine algae that grow on the coastal waters of many countries. Algae • They include thousands of species from microscopic organisms called phytoplankton to huge floating/anchored organisms commonly seen washed up on shore. Scientists now classify these algae as protists. Algae • Many kinds of seaweed are edible and rich in vitamins and iodine. Asian cultures use seaweed like green beans and carrots are used in the United States. Algae • Algae contains great nutritional value and are used in many cultures to wrap vegetables, rice, or raw fish (sushi). • You can obtain algae to eat from a health or ethnic food store. They may include nori, kombu, kelp, and dulse. Algae • Americans have not developed a taste for seaweed, so manufacturers use derivatives from seaweed instead. Seaweed derivatives include: carrageenan alginates carrageenan beta carotene beta carotene alginate Algae • These derivatives act as stabilizers, thickeners, and colorants in the foods Americans eat today. Algae • The three main groups of seaweeds are brown, red, and green algae. Each provides important ingredients for manufacturing foods. Algae • Alginates come from brown algae. They make waterbased products thicker, creamier, and more stable over extreme differences in temperature, pH, and time. Algae • Some products containing alginates are brownie mix, whipped topping, relishes, salad dressings, sauces, and gravies. Algae • Carrageenan is extracted from certain types of red algae. It is used in stabilizing and gelling foods cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, an industrial products. Algae • Some products containing carrageenan are chocolate milk, coffee creamer, yogurt, ice cream, pudding, toothpaste, and sour cream. Algae • Beta carotene is a natural coloring pigment derived from green algae. It is used as a yelloworange food coloring and may help prevent certain types of cancers Algae • Some products made with beta carotene are multiple vitamins, cheese, egg substitute, ice cream, margarine, mayonnaise, whipped topping. Algae • The many products listed here are only a small portion of the many products derived from seaweed. • This is another reason to protect Earth’s oceans!